​For those who want to submit albums for consideration at the 60th Annual GRAMMY® Awards (taking place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 18, 2018), the first round submission process is now open!

The 2018 GRAMMY® Awards are for albums released from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017.

First round submissions are for albums released from October 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017. The submission period closes July 17.

Final round submissions open August 9, and are for albums released from August 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017. The final round submission period closes August 23, 2017. (And yes, you do need to submit albums that haven't yet been released if your release date is set between August 23 and September 30! There are provisions for that...)

As most of you know, Hawai'i no longer has a category dedicated solely to Hawaiian music. We were rolled into the Regional Roots category in 2012, which also includes Cajun, Native American, New Orleans brass band, Polka, and Zydeco. For a Hawaiian album to be eligible in the Regional Roots category, the Hawaiian language must be used in 51% or more of the vocal tracks on the album, and eligibility will be determined by the screening committee.

You must be a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) to submit a recording for GRAMMY® consideration. If you're not a NARAS member and would like my help in entering your album for consideration, please contact me!

GRAMMY® Voting: If you're not a NARAS member, you must join by September 15, 2017 in order to vote on the first round ballot, and by November 15 to vote on the final ballot (and be eligible to purchase tickets to the Awards telecast).

Questions? Contact me!

​Note: A primary reason we no longer have a Hawaiian category is that there weren't enough entries submitted each year to warrant keeping it. In the six years since Hawaiian music was rolled into the Regional Roots category, only once has a Hawaiian album won - Kalani Pe'a's E Walea in 2017 - in part because there are so few voting members of NARAS in Hawai'i. The Hawaiian albums that have made the final ballot as official GRAMMY® nominees since the move to Regional Roots were:2012: George Kahumoku, Jr. Wao Akua2013: Keola Beamer, Malama Ko Aloha and Weldon Kekauoha Pilialoha2014: Kahulanui, Hula Ku'i2015: Kamaka Kukona, Hanu 'A'ala2016: Natalie Ai Kamauu, La La La La and Keali'i Reichel, Kawaiokalena2017: Kalani Pe'a, E Walea (won)Please submit your albums for consideration, and join NARAS so you can vote for our Hawai'i artists!

Author

Originally from California, Iʻve lived on Oʻahu for a number of years. Music has always been my passion and Iʻm fortunate to be able to work with and support many of Hawaiʻiʻs musicians. For such a tiny speck in the middle of a very large ocean, we have an amazing wealth of talent here! ~Lynn

Note: The purpose of this blog is to provide information about (mostly) music-related things. It is not a forum in which people should feel free to insult or otherwise badmouth musicians or anyone else. You are welcome to comment, but please be respectful, pono, and write with aloha. (Comments that don’t meet these guidelines will be deleted.) Mahalo nui loa!